Rail-cleaner.



J. P. GORMAN. RAIL CLEANER.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 1, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Wifnesses: fiw

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. GORMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-CLEANER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. GORMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Cleaners, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for cleaning rails ofstreet railways and has for its objectto provide a simple andinexpensive device of this character that will be eflicient and reliablein use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having meansincorporated therein for cleaning grooved rails.

A further object is to provide means whereby the rail cleaner may bethrown into or out of operation at will by the motorman from hisposition on the car platform.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in such a novelconstruction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fullyset forth and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and inwhich,

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and longitudinal section of aportion of a street car embodying my invention in its preferred form,Fig. 2 is a detail elevation and a transverse section showing a rail anda portion of the car body, Fig. 3 .is a detail side elevation, and Fig.4t is a top elevation of a rail and a transverse section of the cleaningshoe.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the car body and 2 thetrucksthereof. The cleaning shoe 3 is preferably pivoted to the truck 2adjacent to the car wheels, and

- said shoe is inclined to the rail on which it is adapted to bear asshown. The cleanin shoe pivotal bolt 1- is secured in the lugs 0depending from the bottom of the truck 2 and the cleaning shoe 3 is freeto swing on said bolt. In order to present a large rail contactingsurface the cleaning shoe is preferably tapered, the narrow portion ofwhich taper being at the pivoted or bent end there- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed June 1, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Serial No. 499,351.

of. The perforated lugs 6 are provided on the cleaning shoe adjacent toits lower end and an operating rod 7 is pivoted to said lugs by means ofthe bolt 8. The operating rod 7 is bent suiliciently to clear the cartruck and extends upwardly through a perforation 9 in the car floor, andis provlded with a head or pedal 10. Interposed between the head 10 andthe car floor 11 is a helical spring 12 which surrounds the rod 7. Thisspring is adapted to maintain the rod 7 and the cleaning shoe 3 in thenormal elevated or inoperative position. The lower end of the cleaningshoe 3 is shaped to conform to the tread and groove of the rail so thatwhen the pedal 10 is depressed by the motorman the cleaning shoecontacts with the rail and rail groove and cleans the same. To enhancethe cleaning action the front and lower side of the cleaning shoe isbeveled as at 13 in order to deflect the dirt from the rails. I

Two or more cleaning shoes are provided on each side of a car as shownin Fig. 1, and the shoe sloped rearwardly toward the rail is in front inorder that the motorman can operate it conveniently. It is seen thatbecause of the rearward slope of the shoe it is impossible for the sameto catch into ail frogs or other obstructions, and that any requiredpressure of the shoe against the rail may be given by the motorman.

WVhile I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be manychanges made in the details of construction and arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

In a rail cleaner, grooved rails, a car and car truck, a rail cleaningshoe pivoted to said truck vertically over a rail, said shoe beinginclined to the rail on which it is adapted to bear, two lugs integralwith said shoe on the upper inclined surface thereof, a bent operatingrod pivoted to said lugs and extending upwardly through a perforationprovided in the car floor, a head or pedal at the upper extremity ofsaid operating rod, and a helical spring surrounding name to thisspecification in the presence of said rod interposed between sald headand. two subscribing witnesses.

saidcar floor said sprin bein adapted tonornially maintain said cleaningshoe out JAMES GORMAN' of engagement with said rail, substantiallyWVitnesses:

as and for the purposes specified. JOSHUA R; H. PoTTs,

In testimony whereof I have signed my y HELEN F. LILLIs.

